In 1979, the B-52s signed contracts as they flew over to Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas , to record their debut studio album , with Island Records founder Chris Blackwell producing. The band was surprised by Blackwell’s recording methods; he wanted to keep the sound as close as possible…
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In August and September 1979, the Clash recorded the double album London Calling , which Guy Stevens , a former A&R executive who had worked with Mott the Hoople and Traffic , produced. The double album was a mix of punk rock, reggae, ska, rockabilly and traditional rock and roll.…
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Machine Gun Etiquette (1979) featured a strong 1960s garage-rock influence with a Farfisa organ on several songs. Recording at London’s Wessex Studios at the same time as the Clash were there to record London Calling (1979), Joe Strummer and Mick Jones made an uncredited vocal appearance on the title track.…
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Released on July 6, 1979, The B-52’s contained re-recorded versions of “Rock Lobster” and “52 Girls”, six originals recorded solely for the album, and a cover of the Petula Clark hit ” Downtown “. The album was a major success, especially in Australia, where it reached number three on the…
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At the end of 1979, the band members attended a private screening of a new film called Rude Boy , which is part fiction and tells the story of a Clash fan who leaves his job in a Soho sex shop to become a roadie for the group.
That year, “Can’t Stand Losing You” was also re-released in the UK, peaking at No. 2.
Units’ DIY, self stamped, 7” EP entitled “Units” was released in 1979. It was followed by another record in early 1980, “Warm Moving Bodies”/”iNight”. Their first album, Digital Stimulation , was released in 1980, and was the first album released by 415 Records .
The group’s first single, “Fall Out”, was reissued in late 1979, peaking at No. 47 in the UK.
In 1979, Clarke played guitar in an Ultravox -influenced band, the Plan, with friends Robert Marlow and Paul Langwith.
Magazine’s second album, Secondhand Daylight , was released in 1979, reaching the UK top 40. The album featured a greater use of synthesisers. That same year, McGeoch, Adamson and Formula joined electronic project Visage , recording and releasing the single ” Tar “.